Assad: Russia, Not U.S. Threats, Influenced Me To Surrender Chemical Weapons

[ProSense]

Assad: Russia, Not U.S. Threats, Influenced Me To Surrender Chemical Weapons

MOSCOW (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad says his government has agreed to surrender its chemical weapons in response to Russia’s initiative and not because of the U.S. threat of attack.

Assad told Russia’s state Rossiya 24 news channel in an interview that is set to be broadcast fully later Thursday that “Syria is transferring chemical weapons under international control because of Russia.”

He added that “the U.S. threats hadn’t influenced” his government’s decision.

Russia on Monday proposed that Syria place its chemical weapons under international control and eventually dismantle them to avert a U.S. strike, and Syria quickly accepted the proposal.

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/assad-russia-not-us-threats-influenced-me-to-surrender-chemical-weapons.php

So the threat of force isn't a "sticking point" as the Russians claim?

[leveymg]

1. Let's put it this way, the US and Russia are parts of the problem, and let's hope, a solution

that doesn't involve further mass murder and suffering for Syria and the entire region.

Without both, there are no sufficient and necessary components for any sort of durable settlement.

[Scurrilous]

2. ...